Keywords are an essential part of any SEO strategy. They are the words and phrases people use when searching for products or services online. Ranking for the right keywords can lead to more traffic and, ultimately, more conversions. But how do you know what keywords to target? One way is to perform keyword competitive analysis.
When doing competitive analysis, you look at your competitors’ websites to see what keywords they are targeting. This information can be incredibly valuable, as it helps you understand what potential customers are searching for and what phrases your competitors are using to target them.
In this post, we’ll cover actionable tips for unlocking your competitors’ keywords, so you can create a successful SEO strategy.
Step 1: Identify Your Competitors
Before you can analyze your competitors’ keywords, you need to identify who they are. There are a few ways to do this:
- Search for your target keywords and see which websites are ranking in the top 10 results. These websites are your main competitors.
- Use tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to see who is ranking for your target keywords.
- Look for websites that are targeting the same audience as you, even if they are not directly competing with you.
Once you have a list of competitors, it’s time to move on to step 2.
Step 2: Analyze Your Competitors’ Websites
The next step is to analyze your competitors’ websites to see what keywords they are targeting. Here are a few things to look for:
- Page Titles: Look at the titles of their web pages. Do they include any target keywords?
- Meta Descriptions: Do the meta descriptions mention any target keywords?
- Content: Analyze the content on their website. Do they use target keywords in their content?
- Headings: Look at the headings used on their website. Do they include target keywords?
- URLs: Look at the URLs of their web pages. Do they include target keywords?
- Image Alt Tags: Look at the Alt tags of the images on their website. Do they include target keywords?
Step 3: Use Tools to Analyze Your Competitors’ Keywords
There are several tools that can help you analyze your competitors’ keywords. Here are some of the most popular ones:
SEMrush
SEMrush is a powerful tool that lets you see what keywords your competitors are ranking for, as well as their search volume, position in search results, and more. To use SEMrush, enter your competitor’s URL in the search box, and the tool will display a report of the keywords they are ranking for.
Ahrefs
Ahrefs is another great tool for keyword research. It lets you see what keywords your competitors are ranking for, as well as their search volume, position in search results, and more. To use Ahrefs, enter your competitor’s URL in the search box, and the tool will display a report of the keywords they are ranking for.
Google Keyword Planner
Google Keyword Planner is a free tool that lets you see the search volume for keywords and get keyword ideas. While it doesn’t directly analyze your competitors’ keywords, it can still be useful for finding new keywords to target.
Step 4: Analyze Your Competitors’ Backlinks
Backlinks are links from other websites to your competitors’ websites. Analyzing your competitors’ backlinks can help you identify which keywords they are targeting and what types of content are most effective at attracting links. Here are a few things to look for:
- Anchor Text: Look at the anchor text of the backlinks. Is it keywords-focused?
- Linking Domains: Look at the websites that are linking to your competitors’ sites. Are they relevant to your industry?
- Link Types: Look at the types of links your competitors are getting. Are they guest posts, blog comments, or something else?
Step 5: Analyze Your Competitors’ PPC Ads
PPC ads are paid advertising campaigns that appear at the top of search engine results pages. Your competitors’ PPC ads can be a good source of information on what keywords they are targeting. Here are a few things to look for:
- Ad copy: Analyze the ad copy to see what keywords are being used.
- Landing pages: Look at the landing pages of your competitors’ PPC ads. Do they use target keywords?
- Ad position: Look at where your competitors’ ads are appearing. This can give you an idea of what keywords are most competitive.
Conclusion
Keyword competitive analysis is a crucial part of any SEO strategy. By analyzing your competitors’ keywords, you can gain valuable insights into what your potential customers are searching for and what phrases your competitors are using to target them. Use the tips in this post to unlock your competitors’ keywords and create a successful SEO strategy.